Step 20: Upgrade the ESXi hosts using Update Manager

20.1: The first step to carry out is to create a new baseline with the ESXi image. To do this go to Update Manager from the home page on the vSphere client

20.2: Click on the ESXi Images tab as you’ll need to upload the image before configuring a new baseline. Select Import ESXi image

20.3: Select the ESXi image that was downloaded earlier and click Next

20.4: Accept the certificate if you’re prompted by click Ignore

20.5: The image will begin to upload

20.6: Once completed click Next

20.7: Create a new baseline and click Finish

20.8: Go to Baselines and Groups and the newly created baseline will appear

20.9: Next, click on Compliance View and it will bring you to the root of vCenter within Update Manager. Select Attach and add the Upgrade Baseline for ESX 5.5 and select Attach

20.10: Next click on Scan and select Upgrades as the scan criteria. Click Scan

20.11: This will kick off a scan across the entire environment. As there are two different sites with separate Update Manager Servers the above steps will need to be carried out there also.

20.12: The next steps are to update the individual ESXi hosts to not cause any downtime. Put one of the hosts in maintenance mode and migrate any VMs from it. The host will need a reboot following the upgrade. Once the selected host is in maintenance mode select Update Manager

20.14: Once the host is rebooted re-run the Update Manager scan. Compliance will now show Non-complaint rather than Incompatible.

20.15: Next click on Stage to push the software out to the host. This will just speed up the upgrade process. Once the staging has been completed then click on Remediate to complete the upgrade process

20.16: Once the Host Upgrade is selected click Next during the remediate process

20.21: Choose what options you’d like to use as part of the upgrade and click Next

20.22: Click Finish to complete the task

20.23: A new remediation task will begin.

20.24: Keep an eye on the remediation in case there are any alerts that appear. Once the remediation has completed Update Manager will show the host as being compliant.

20.25: Exit maintenance mode and migrate some VMs back onto the host. Follow the same above steps on all the remaining ESXi hosts.

Step 21: Upgrade DVSwitch versions

21.1: Once the ESXi hosts have been upgraded you can then upgrade any dvSwitches. Go to Networking and select the dvSwitch. Check the version number. If it’s a previous version to the current version of vCenter it will ask for an upgrade. The ESXi hosts need to be upgraded first so now is the time to upgrade the dvSwitches.

22.3: You can select Automatic mode if you want to quickly update, however I need to ensure that the vShield agent is installed so I’ve selected Interactive Mode and clicked Ok

22.4: Select Run setup when prompted

22.5: The installation will then begin. Click Next on the first dialog

22.6: Select Custom and click Next

22.7: Click Next and then click Finish to complete the install. You may be asked to reboot the server, most likely you will have to.

Congratulations!! You’ve now completed all steps of the upgrade. You can choose to upgrade the hardware version of the VMs as well. In my case it was decided due to the nature of some of the VMs the benefits they would get from the hardware upgrade it was decided to leave that upgrade component until a later date.